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Our 50 Best Shrimp Recipes Will Turn You Into a Seafood Master

The essential ways to cook the U.S.'s most popular seafood.

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated: May 26, 2020

Delicate, briny, and sweet, it's no surprise shrimp are the most popular seafood to cook in the United States. While a great shrimp recipe may call for little more than lemon and butter, we've collected our 50 best recipes with shrimp to show off just how delicious this crustacean can be.

Shrimp scampi, paella, shrimp cocktails, and dumplings just scratch the surface. They're also the perfect thing to add to your crawfish boil. Shrimp cooks quickly and takes just a bit of time to prepare. Learn how to de-vein shrimp and you can get to making your favorite shrimp recipes in no time. But save those shrimp shells! They add the perfect hit of shrimpy flavor to your seafood soups, shrimp stocks, and cooking oils.

Shrimp is perfect for fried dishes as the crunch gives way to tender, succulent meat inside. Shrimp tempura is an incredibly popular dish but with our guide to perfect tempura, it is just as easy to make at home. Tiger shrimp, white shrimp, pink shrimp, and even prawns—there are so many kinds of shrimp to choose from and they all have distinctive tastes. We’ve rounded up our absolute best shrimp recipes here.

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Steamed Mixed Shellfish Dumplings

steamed mixed shellfish dumplings — In China, this combination of shrimp, scallops, and crab is a special-occasion dumpling filling. The clean flavor and slippery texture of the shellfish are unobscured by any filler. Serve steamed dumplings directly from the bamboo steamers, since their delicate wrappers can break in transfer. Get the recipe for Steamed Mixed Shellfish Dumplings »Heami Lee

Seafood Soup with Ginger and Yuzu Kosho

seafood soup with ginger and yuzu kosho — Flavored with wine and aromatics, this broth is similar to a nage or poaching liquid—you only need a shallow pool of it in each bowl. The broth features red yuzu kosho, a Japanese condiment made from citrus, yuzu, and chiles, which adds a round, tart flavor that is hard to replace. In a pinch, add a little more chile and lime zest. If head-on shrimp are hard to find—or you'd rather not fight with fish heads on New Year's Eve—nix them for more shelled shrimp. Get the recipe for Seafood Soup with Ginger and Yuzu Kosho »Christina Holmes

Chicken and Prawn Curry

chicken prawn curry — Characteristic of the region's curries, this intensely spicy one from chef Kevin Joseph of Durban's The Oyster Box hotel gets its heat not from chiles, but pastes made of fresh garlic, ginger, and onions, plus lots of curry powder. Though not cooked long, the sauce is rich and thick thanks to heaps of ground spices and unsweetened coconut cream. Get the recipe for Chicken and Prawn Curry »Crookes & Jackson

Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns

Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns — This hearty grain and seed salad is perfect for lunch, as the quinoa, buckwheat, and sunflower seeds luxuriate in a lemon dressing with mandarin-sauced shrimp. Get the recipe for Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns »Ryan Liebe

Pickled Shrimp with Satsuma

Pickled Shrimp with Satsuma (close up) — Bittersweet satsumas, a citrus fruit native to Louisiana, brighten these pickled shrimp, which chef Justin Devillier of New Orleans' La Petite Grocery spikes with Korean chile flakes. Substitute tangerines or any orange-related citrus and crushed red chile flakes, if necessary. Get the recipe for Pickled Shrimp with Satsuma »Christina Holmes

Stir-Fried Shrimp and Long Beans with XO Sauce

Stir-Fried Shrimp and Long Beans with XO Sauce — I like the shadows in this photo, and how it's abstract but warm and inviting. This dish included an ingredient I wasn't too familiar with—XO sauce—so I wanted the image to drag you in and make you want to learn more about it. Get the recipe for Stir-Fried Shrimp and Long Beans with XO Sauce »Matt Taylor-Gross

Prawns with Edamame Slaw and Carrot Miso Sauce

Prawns with Edamame Slaw and Carrot Miso Sauce — Carrot juice and white miso make a sweet umami dressing for jumbo prawns and a spicy slaw of radish and edamame in this recipe adapted from chef Ryan Edwards of Appellation restaurant in Barossa, Australia. Get the recipe for Prawns with Edamame Slaw and Carrot Miso Sauce »Matt Taylor-Gross

Philippine Noodle Stir-Fry (Pancit Bihon)

Philippine Noodle Stir-Fry (Pancit Bihon) — "Eating this dish makes me feel like I'm at home. It's my mom's specialty, and I remember helping her prep this as a child. It is served at every party [my family throws] and is eaten on its own for merianda, the Filipino equivalent of British Tea Time." – Leah Cohen of Pig & Khao Get the recipe for Philippine Noodle Stir-Fry (Pancit Bihon) »Matt Taylor-Gross

Philippine Paella

Philippine Paella — Part Spanish, part Filipino, made with rich coconut milk and hard-cooked eggs for garnish. Get the recipe for Philippine Paella »Matt Taylor-Gross

Grilled Shrimp and Roasted Peppers

Grilled Shrimp — This lighter shrimp salad recipe is a substitute for the more traditional, but heavier, Italian roasted-eel salad. Roasting large red bell peppers adds a smokier element to the tangy, cured shrimp. Get the recipe for Grilled Shrimp and Roasted Peppers »Matt Taylor-Gross

Grilled Shrimp Summer Rolls

Grilled Shrimp Summer Rolls — Juicy mango, buttery avocado, and lightly charred sweet shrimp get packed into rice paper along with crispy cabbage and cucumber for a summer appetizer that hits all the right textural notes. Prep the spicy, tart dipping sauce ahead to give the flavors time to meld. Get the recipe for Grilled Shrimp Summer Rolls »Matt Taylor-Gross

Sour Curry Soup with Shrimp

Sour Curry Soup with Shrimp — Light, tangy, and cooked with a modest amount of heat and any available seafood and fresh vegetables, kaeng som is an elemental and satisfying dish, and this curry from Pok Pok's Andy Ricker is an easy recipe to master. Learn to make the shrimp-enriched broth, which leads with tart, pungent flavors but also delivers measured amounts of sweetness, salt, and spice, and you'll begin to understand the balance in Thai cooking. Get the recipe for Sour Curry Soup with Shrimp »Joseph De Leo

Grilled Watermelon, Avocado, and Shrimp Salad

Grilled Watermelon, Avocado, and Shrimp Salad — Grilling makes everything better—watermelons get even sweeter from the flames, shrimp gets crisp and plump, and avocado turns deliciously smoky. Get the recipe for Grilled Watermelon, Avocado, and Shrimp Salad »Farideh Sadeghin

Sautéed Squash and Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Chiles

Sautéed Squash Shrimp Coconut — Similar to an unripe mango or green papaya, julienned squash has a slightly "green" flavor that pairs well with the classic Thai flavors in this quick, brothy dish. Get the recipe for Sautéed Squash and Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Chiles »Matt Taylor-Gross

Soba Noodle Salad with Miso and Grilled Prawns

Soba Noodle Salad with Miso and Grilled Prawns — A miso marinade doubles as a dressing for a flavorful salad composed of watercress, scallions, and soba noodles. Get the recipe for Soba Noodle Salad with Miso and Grilled Prawns »Farideh Sadeghin

Shrimp Remoulade

Shrimp Remoulade — Classic, tangy remoulade sauce is a luxurious accompaniment to any crustacean. Get the recipe for Shrimp Remoulade »Christopher Hirsheimer

Andy Ricker’s Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimp

Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimp (Phat Thai Ruam Mit) — Semi-dried, flat rice noodles, which are available online and in many Asian markets, are worth seeking out, as they hold their shape and texture better than the fully dried version. Get the recipe for Andy Ricker's Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimp »Eva Kolenko

Vietnamese Herb-Wrapped Shrimp

Serve these lime-marinated shrimp with fresh mint, shiso, or basil leaves for wrapping, and soy sauce and wasabi for dipping. Get the recipe for Vietnamese Herb-Wrapped Shrimp »

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits — A classic Lowcountry breakfast dish, shrimp and grits also makes a splendid easy supper. Get the recipe for Get the recipe for Shrimp and Grits »Kat Craddock

Salted Fried Shrimp

Salted Fried Shrimp — Lime juice doctored with salt and pepper makes the ideal dipping sauce for these crispy, twice-fried shrimp. Get the recipe for Salted Fried Shrimp »Allie Wist

Spaghetti with Shrimp Rundown Sauce

Spaghetti with Shrimp Rundown Sauce — Shrimp pulls double duty here: the shells are used to make the flavorful rundown sauce, and the meat is marinated with citrus and lightly cooked with the pasta. Get the recipe for Spaghetti with Shrimp Rundown Sauce »Jenny Huang

Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta (Garides Saganaki)

Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta — The term saganaki refers to the skillet in which Greeks cook ingredients with cheese. In this dish, shrimp is topped with crumbled feta and broiled. Get the recipe for Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta (Garides Saganaki) »Rachel Dolfi

Shrimp Scampi

An Italian-American classic, shrimp scampi is a simple dish of sautéed shrimp tossed with a sauce of white wine, garlic, lemon juice, and butter, then served with pasta. Get the recipe for Shrimp Scampi »Farideh Sadeghin

Southern Thai Rice Salad with Shrimp (Khao Yam)

Southern Thai Rice Salad — Ma Ya's rice dishes, curries, and treats show coconut's sweet and savory versatility. Get the recipe for Southern Thai Rice Salad with Shrimp (Khao Yam) »Austin Bush

Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum Goong — Fragrant with lime juice and lemongrass, this hot and sour soup is based on a recipe from our friend Nancie McDermott, author of Real Thai (Chronicle Books, 1992). Get the recipe for Tom Yum Goong »Todd Coleman

LeRuth’s Red Shrimp Rémoulade

Spicy paprika and whole-grain mustard sauce coats plump shrimp in this classic New Orleans red rémoulade from the late chef Warren Leruth. Get the recipe for LeRuth's Red Shrimp Rémoulade »Ingalls Photography

Shrimp With Spicy Herb Butter

Shrimp With Spicy Herb Butter — The best way to enjoy this sweet Gulf shrimp dish, adapted from Donald Link's Down South (Clarkson Potter, 2014), is with drawn butter for dipping. Get the recipe for Shrimp With Spicy Herb Butter »Andre Baranowski

Shrimp Satay (Satay Udang)

Shrimp Satay (Satay Udang) — Ground macadamia nuts enrich this spicy Singaporean-style shrimp satay. Get the recipe for Shrimp Satay (Satay Udang) »Todd Coleman

Marinated Artichokes with Prawns and Fino Sherry

Marinated Artichokes with Prawns and Fino Sherry (Alcachofas Salteadas con Langostinos y Fino) — The pairing of artichokes and local Sanlúcar prawns are a timeless Jerez classic, but this version gets a kick from a cup of nutty, briny amontillado sherry. Get the recipe for Marinated Artichokes with Prawns and Fino Sherry (Alcachofas Salteadas con Langostinos y Fino) »Adrian Morris

Shrimp Chorizo

Alex Stupak's shrimp version of the Mexican classic is a delicious play on the ultimate beginner's sausage. Get the recipe for Shrimp and Chorizo Sausage »Farideh Sadeghin

Alaskan Shrimp Chips

Mother-daughter chef team, Kirsten and Mandy Dixon, turn this staple of Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine into an addictive snack and appetizer served at their rural Alaskan adventure lodges, Within the Wild. Get the recipe for Alaskan Shrimp Chips »

Shrimp and Pea Shoot Dumplings

Shrimp and Pea Shoot Dumplings (Har Gow) — These traditional shrimp dumplings are encased in har gow dough, glutinous dumpling skins that are opaque when raw and become luminously translucent once cooked. Get the recipe for Shrimp and Pea Shoot Dumplings »Maxime Iattone

Shrimp Tacos

Don Pepe's Chiles de Árbol Salsa and Guacamole — Every element of this taco—inspired by those at Don Pepe Taqueria in Fresno—is amped up, from the red rice simmered in a blend of chicken stock and puréed tomatoes to the quick-marinated shrimp. Use large flour tortillas as tacos or wrap them into a burrito. Get the recipe for Shrimp Tacos »Dylan + Jeni

Shrimp and Rice Pilaf (Machbuss Rubian)

Shrimp and Rice Pilaf (Machbuss Rubian) — Influences from all over the Middle East and South Asia converge in this highly seasoned seafood pilaf made with curry and shrimp. Get the recipe for Shrimp and Rice Pilaf (Machbuss Rubian) »Jason Lowe

Pickled Shrimp

Pickled Shrimp — Briny, faintly spicy pickled shrimp are a staple of Southern cuisine. In this Georgia-inspired version, frozen raw shrimp are a fine substitute for fresh. Get the recipe for Pickled Shrimp »Todd Coleman

Wok-Fried Shrimp with Garlic

Wok-Fried Shrimp with Garlic — Head-on shrimp, quickly stir-fried with garlic, are sweet, spicy and succulent. Serve over rice for an easy weeknight dinner. Get the recipe for Wok-Fried Shrimp with Garlic »James Fisher

Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings)

dumplings, shrimp dumpling recipe — These delicious Malaysian dumplings stuffed with minced shrimp, scallions, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots are easy to make with store-bought gyoza (pot-sticker) wrappers. Get the recipe for Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings) »Todd Coleman

Seafood Pasta

Frutti di Mare — The recipe for this shellfish-laden pasta comes from chef Michael Chiarello. Get the recipe for Seafood Pasta »Michael Kraus

Tostones con Camarones Guisados

Tostones — In this recipe, simple fried plantains are topped with a bright shrimp and tomato sauce. Get the recipe for Tostones con Camarones Guisados »Penny de los Santos

Shrimp, Avocado, and Crispy Potato Smorrebrod

Shrimp, Avocado, Crispy Potatoes, Copenhagen, Smorrebrod — Take avocado toast to a new level with this tasty Danish open-face sandwich. Get the recipe for Shrimp, Avocado, and Crispy Potato SmorrebrodMarcus Nilsson

Shrimp Crudo with Creme Fraiche, Apple, Chard, and Shallot

Shrimp Crudo with Creme Fraiche, Apple, Chard, and Shallot — In Puglia, "crudo" refers to a wide range of raw seafood preparations, including whole uncooked gamberi rossi, the region's large red shrimp, with their heads and tails intact. The sweet flavors of the shrimp flesh—and its slippery texture—are meant to shine through. Use only the freshest, highest-quality shrimp possible. Get the recipe for Shrimp Crudo with Creme Fraiche, Apple, Chard, and Shallot »Eva Kolenko

Gan Shao Xia

Sweet and Sour Shrimp — Delightfully sweet and tangy, these Shanghainese shrimp take under ten minutes to prepare. Get the recipe for Gan Shao Xia »Todd Coleman

Langoustine Pasta

Shrimp — Chef Paul Bartolotta uses sweet langoustines for this simple, flavorful pasta dish. Get the recipe for Langoustine Pasta »Todd Coleman

Pasta and Shrimp Casserole (Camusclim)

Pasta and Shrimp Casserole (Camusclim) — This creamy-but-zesty pasta casserole combines shrimp, melted cheese, and béchamel. Get the recipe for Pasta and Shrimp Casserole (Camusclim) »James Oseland

Commander’s Palace Shrimp & Tasso Henican

Commander's Palace Shrimp & Tasso Henican — Red pepper jelly and pickled okra and onions add piquancy to this dish. Get the recipe for Commander's Palace Shrimp & Tasso Henican »Todd Coleman

Tostadas de Camaron Seco

Tostadas — A mix of dried shrimp, eggs, and tangy achiote makes an intensely savory topping for fried tortillas in this simple dish, eaten as an appetizer or snack in coastal Oaxaca. Get the recipe for Tostadas de Camaron Seco »Todd Coleman

Michelada con Camarones (Spicy Beer Cocktail with Shrimp)

Michelada con Camarones — This spicy cantina favorite makes an excellent appetizer and thirst-quencher on a hot summer night. Get the recipe for Michelada con Camarones (Spicy Beer Cocktail with Shrimp) »Todd Coleman

Salsa con Camaron Seco

Camaron Seco — In coastal Oaxaca, both fresh and dried shrimp appear in all kinds of preparations. Here, they bring texture and intense umami flavor to a classic pico de gallo. Get the recipe for Salsa con Camaron Seco »Todd Coleman

Vatapa

Vatapa — An adaptable stew from the Brazilian state of Bahia, Vatapa gets its luxurious texture and signature floral notes from coconut milk and palm oil. Get the recipe for Vatapa »Todd Coleman

Shrimp Fritters (Tortillitas de Camarones)

Shrimp Fritters (Tortillitas de Camarones) — These crisp-edged fritters get their earthy flavor from chickpea flour. Get the recipe for Shrimp Fritters (Tortillitas de Camarones) »Todd Coleman

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